priorities & results
drinking water
water resources & wetlands
wastewater & septic system
laws and rules
permits, reporting & forms
grants & financial assistance
compliance assistance
enforcement
Private Wells Guidelines and InformationRelated Topics
Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Private Wells
Guidance
Private Wells: Frequently Asked Questions What are private water supplies (private wells), who regulates them, recommendations for testing, and more. Arsenic in Private Well Water: Frequently Asked Questions Arsenic occurs naturally in soil and bedrock in parts of Massachusetts. If you are in an area of concern, MassDEP recommends that you sample for arsenic. These questions and answers explain the health risks of arsenic and what you should do if you water has elevated arsenic levels. Arsenic & Uranium Bedrock Well Study Results of recent USGS investigation on the occurrence of arsenic and uranium in bedrock drinking water wells in Massachusetts and additional information for owners of private bedrock wells. March 2011. Estimating Private Well Yields This article is primarily for boards of health that do not have their own requirements for pumping tests but rely on the Department of Conservation & Recreation's Water Well Completion Report for estimates of well yield. Model Board of Health Regulations for Private Wells Recommended language for local boards of health to use in writing regulations for private wells. Updated October 2011. Private Well Guidelines These guidelines are primarily intended to assist Boards of Health and well drillers by attempting to introduce some consistency regarding construction standards from town to town. The Guidelines also provide information useful to the private well owner, developers, and interested local officials. Revised May 2008. 2011 Standards & Guidelines for Contaminants in Massachusetts Drinking Water The 2011 Standards & Guidelines for Contaminants are intended to provide the public with information on the safety and integrity of drinking water in Massachusetts. A maximum contaminant level (MCL), the highest concentration that is allowed in drinking water, is provided for each contaminant, with technical explanations and references. June 2011. Private or Public Drinking Water Facility Information presented in chart form to help determine whether your supply is a public or private facility. Protect Your Family: A Guide to Water Quality Testing for Private Wells Informational brochure from the US EPA and the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, explaining how wells can get contaminated and testing procedures to be followed. Recommendations for Private Wells Inundated by Flooding Disinfection procedures and other guidance if a private well has been contaminated by floodwater.. February 13, 2008. Horsekeeping: Protecting Public Health & Drinking Water Potential risks from pasture runoff, and what horse owners can do to prevent contamination of water supplies, including recommended well setbacks from manure piles. Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Private Wells
Water Quality & Testing
Protect Your Family: A Guide to Water Quality Testing for Private Wells Informational brochure from the US EPA and the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, explaining how wells can get contaminated and testing procedures to be followed. MassDEP-Certified Laboratories for Drinking Water Analysis Information about laboratories certified for water analysis in Massachusetts - regulations, process, and link to a searchable list of certified labs. Private Drinking Water Testing and the Use of Massachusetts Certified Laboratories Q&A about lab certification, test quality, testing parameters, choosing a lab, and more. Private Wells - Testing Parameters and Frequency Guidelines While MassDEP does not regulate private wells or mandate testing for private water supplies, these are recommended guidelines for testing. Point of Entry/Point of Use Devices These devices - such as carbon filters, ion treatment, reverse osmosis systems, etc. - are installed locally, either at the water service connection of a building (point of entry) or right at the tap (point of use), to treat aesthetic issues such as taste or odor or to help meet drinking water standards. August 2007. Private Wells in Urban Areas Fact sheet prepared by MassDEP's Northeast Regional Office on private wells in areas served by public water systems. Recommendations for Private Wells Inundated by Flooding Disinfection procedures and other guidance if a private well has been contaminated by floodwater. February 13, 2008. DWP's use of Office of Research and Standards Drinking Water Guidelines and US EPA Health Advisory Level Discusses the role of Office of Research and Standards Drinking Water Guidelines and US EPA Health Advisory Levels when a contaminant is detected in drinking water. Decemeber 30, 2009. Water, Wastewater & Wetlands: Private Wells
Related Links & Resources
Boards of Health List Addresses and phone numbers for Massachusetts Boards of Health. SearchWell A new online service to help locate wells around the state. Wells are mapped by town with information on how many wells are recorded in the database. Search by location, well type, and other options, and view GIS maps of recorded well locations. Massachusetts Health Officers Association This website includes a calendar of events, news, training information, and more. New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Fact Sheets Although these fact sheets were written for New Hampshire, they include much generally useful information on drinking water topics relative to private wells and other areas of concern. Well Water Fact Sheets (from University of Massachusetts-Amherst) Fact sheets on a wide variety of subjects, such as treatment, contaminants, standards, and testing, from the Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation program of the UMass-Amherst Extension Service. US EPA-New England's Private Drinking Water Wells page Information from US EPA on private wells. Like MassDEP, EPA does not regulate private water supplies, but provides information for consumers on health and safety issues associated with private supplies, including testing, treatment, proper maintenance, and information for real estate buyers and sellers. Office of the Massachusetts State Geologist This website provides access to GIS maps of private well locations by USGS quadrangles, along with links to related information on other sites. Note that GIS coverage is not statewide at this time; additional maps will be added as research is completed. The American Well Owner - American Ground Water Trust The American Well Owner (TAWO) provides resources for well owners to keep their water supplies safe and sustainable. TAWO is an arm of the American Ground Water Trust, an organization dedicated to the protection and safe management of ground water resources.
|
||
